Page 14 of The Velvet Hours
“My dove is hidden safely. Her wings are only for me.”
“Yes,” she whispered into his ear as his arm now tightened around her waist.
“To remain hidden, to be protected.” She softened in his embrace. “To be yours alone.”
***
The gift of the Florian book had touched her. Now she set out to give Charles a gift that would remind him of her during those long stretches when they were apart.
One afternoon, on her way back from visiting Ichiro, Marthe came across a small secondhand jewelry shop on one of the side streets not far from her apartment. As she stepped closer to the window, she admired the display: a jet-beaded necklace, an enameled brooch, and a cocktail ring with an aquamarine stone the size of a robin’s egg. But it was the gold pocket watch that caught her eye.
Marthe moved closer to the glass pane. The watch was open, displaying the guilloche dial and its dark roman numerals. But its interior casing was what intrigued her most. For inside, was the engraving of a dove.
Her heart fluttered. The watch would make the perfect gift for Charles. Like a secret between them, he could open the case in private and see the image of hisnom d’amourfor her—the beautiful wings spread in flight.
Marthe walked inside the store and asked the sales clerk to see the watch.
“I’m afraid this is a purely decorative piece, mademoiselle,” the sales clerk informed her. “There is a defect with the escape wheel, and it has defied several attempts of repair.”
Marthe removed her glove and took a finger to the edge of the case. The bird was etched in a beautiful fluid silhouette. Its wings a sensual V shape.
“So the only person who should own such a watch, is one not interested in keeping the time...”
“Yes, I suppose so, mademoiselle. That would be correct.”
She smiled.
“The watch is very well priced, mademoiselle. The store owner established its value based solely on the weight of the gold.”
He took a pen and wrote the price on a piece of paper.
“Well priced, indeed.” She reached to open her silk purse strings and pulled out a check. “It will make the perfect gift. I’m so very pleased.”
***
The next time she saw Charles, she waited until he was untangling himself from the bedsheets and reaching for his clothes.
“When will I see you again?”
“Ah, my dove, you know I can’t tell you that now. I never know my schedule from one week until the next.”
Her smile was coy as she pushed herself up against the silken headboard. Around her shoulders, coils of red hair draped languidly.
“Before you go, I have a gift for you, Charles.”
Her long leg emerged from the linens, and she pulled the sheets around her as she walked toward her dresser drawer.
“A gift? Oh now, I do hope you haven’t spent a lot of your allowance on me, my sweet girl. Because if you have, I’ll be quite cross.”
“No, in fact, I believe I bought it for a rather splendid price considering the craftsmanship involved.”
From her dresser, she pulled out a blue velvet box.
“I believe you’ll understand why this was meant for you.”
His shirt buttoned, he slipped his coat over his arms as he began to walk toward her.
She opened the box and revealed the gold pocket watch with its solid gold casing. She took it out and handed it to him.
